Integrated Image Sensor Lighting Through Transparent Pixel Passages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image capture devices face challenges in achieving homogeneous illumination and high sensitivity due to the placement of radiation sources, leading to increased costs and complexity, particularly when using multiple sensors or partially transparent sensors.
Innovation Solution
A low-cost image capture device with a one-piece sensor substrate featuring transparent passages for radiation and a separate substrate with distributed radiation sources, ensuring uniform illumination and improved sensitivity by positioning sources directly over passages in the sensor matrix.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple point sources are placed around the sensor periphery, then illumination coverage is improved, but illumination homogeneity deteriorates because central pixels are much further from light sources than peripheral pixels
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is segmented into multiple point sources distributed around the sensor periphery, with each source responsible for illuminating a specific region. This segmentation allows better control over illumination distribution while maintaining coverage of the entire sensor area.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sensor receive optimized illumination from nearby point sources. Peripheral pixels receive strong illumination from adjacent sources, while central pixels receive combined illumination from multiple sources, creating locally optimized illumination quality across different zones.
2Illumination intensity
If sensor size is reduced to bring pixels closer to light sources, then illumination intensity improves, but image resolution deteriorates due to fewer pixels
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of reducing sensor size in two dimensions to bring pixels closer to sources, the solution adds a third dimension by placing multiple point sources at different locations around the sensor periphery. This allows central pixels to receive illumination from multiple angular directions, compensating for distance without reducing pixel count.
3Illumination intensity
If several sensors are juxtaposed with gaps for light sources, then illumination homogeneity improves, but device complexity and cost increase due to alignment difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensors are merged into a single integrated sensor unit with a unified pixel matrix. The point sources are integrated around the periphery of this single sensor, eliminating alignment issues between multiple separate sensors while maintaining homogeneous illumination across the entire active area.
4Ease of manufacture
If sensor is made partially transparent to allow radiation passage, then light source integration improves, but sensitivity deteriorates due to reduced filling factor and direct radiation capture by photosensitive elements
Solution Approach 1:
The radiation source is extracted and placed outside the sensor substrate, around the periphery. This eliminates the need to make the sensor partially transparent, as radiation passes through air or vacuum from the peripheral sources to the pixels, maintaining full sensor transparency and sensitivity while achieving source integration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides homogeneous illumination and maintains high sensitivity while reducing costs by integrating radiation sources directly over transparent passages in the sensor substrate, enhancing image quality and simplifying device assembly.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor being formed on a first one-piece substrate comprising several passages transparent to the first radiation
Implementation Method 2
lighting means capable of emitting a first radiation intended to illuminate an object to obtain an image
Implementation Method 3
pixels sensitive to a second radiation as a function of the first radiation emitted by the lighting means
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~5d
AI summary
The invention relates to an image pickup device intended to produce images of an object in contact with or in close proximity to the device. The device comprises a sensor (10) and lighting means able to emit a first radiation intended to illuminate an object to obtain an image thereof, the sensor (10) comprising pixels (11) sensitive to a second radiation depending on the first radiation emitted by the means of illumination. The sensor (10) is formed on a one-piece substrate comprising several passages (15) transparent to the first radiation. The lighting means comprise at least one source of first radiation arranged facing one of the passages (15). The invention also relates to a method of making this device.